The Host [a] is a 2006 monster film[b] directed and co-written by Bong Joon Ho. It stars Song Kang-ho as food stand vendor Park Gang-du whose daughter Hyun-seo (Go Ah-sung) is kidnapped by a creature dwelling around the Han River in Seoul. Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, and Bae Doona appear in supporting roles as Gang-du's father, brother, and sister, respectively, who help Gang-du escape quarantine against an alleged virus derived from the monster and search for his daughter. Considered a co-production between South Korea and Japan, the film was produced by independent studio Chungeorahm Film and presented by its South Korean distributor Showbox and the Japanese investor Happinet.

Also discussed: Wes Anderson, Simone Weil, Kevin Smith, Mallrats, Allan Moyle, Pump Up the Volume (1990), Times Square (1980), Empire Records (1995), The Toxic Avenger (2025), IMAX and A24 ai ventures, and more. 

NEXT WEEK: Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965), 

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Joshua Conkel

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